Jekyll Island, GA one of Georgia’s Golden Isles is rich in history & tradition. It was occupied at various times by Indian tribes, Spanish missionaries, English soldiers & French settlers. The island's most notable history emerged in the 1880s during its era as the winter retreat of some of America's wealthiest industrialists.Jekyll’s first recorded inhabitants were the Guale Indians. The Spanish Missionaries arrived in the late 16^th century establishing Santiago de Ocone, the Spanish mission on Jekyll Island. In 1734, when General Oglethorpe passed by Jekyll Island (naming it for his friend Sir Joseph Jekyll) the Indians and Spanish had long since disappeared from the Island.

G1367 - Faith Chapel, 1910

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At this time, William Horton established a thriving plantation on the Island. The plantation was destroyed by the Spanish who crossed the Island in retreat after their defeat at the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Simons Island in 1742. Horton rebuilt his home and by 1746 had restored the plantation to its former state. Following Horton’s death the Island was sold at public auction and Christophe Poulain du Bignon acquired full ownership in 1800.

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G372 - River Road,  Early 1900s

The du Bignon family raised sea-island cotton on Jekyll Island until the Civil War. After the war, the du Bignons found that it was not practical to continue a cotton plantation without slave labor. By 1886 the du Bignons sold the entire Island to the Jekyll Island Club, to be used as a private hunting retreat. Members of the club included many prominent East Coast millionaires. They built a grand clubhouse and a colony of mansion-size cottages.

G807 -Club House, Turn of the Century

See more Photographs of Old Jekyll Island below. Press on photograph title to see a larger image.

By the early 20^th century, Jekyll Island club members were said to represent one-sixth of the world’s wealth. Later generations lost interest and by World War II had left the island. It was sold in 1947 to the state of Georgia for use as a state park. Jekyll Island is now one of Georgia’s major resort areas. It has become a tranquil refuge with it’s pristine beaches, marshes and woodlands and it’s well restored historic district.

See more Photographs of Old Jekyll Island below. Press on photograph title to see a larger image.

G867 -Pier at Jekyll Island, Early 1900's

G1316 - Jekyll Club, 1910

G1347 - View from Clubhouse looking North

G2511 -Robert E. Lee at Jekyll Island

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G2913 -Lawn Bowling at the Jekyll Club